Mississippi Department of Agriculture & Commerce

Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC)

Our mission is to support and apply necessary regulations to agricultural-related businesses within the state and to promote Mississippi’s products throughout both the state and the rest of the world for the benefit of all Mississippi citizens.

MDAC covers a number of industries including but not limited to: Bureau of Plant Industries, Bureau of Regulations, Mississippi Farmers Market, Mississippi Livestock Shows, as well as petroleum products inspections, meat inspections. honey bees, seed program, agriculture theft programs, agriculture aviation, grain inspections and warehousing. All of this is in addition to our Agriculture Commodities ranging from Poultry and Eggs, to Soybeans, Timber, Corn, to Sweet potatoes, Beef, Catfish, and Peanuts!

Agriculture is Mississippi’s number one industry, employing approximately 17.4% of the state’s workforce either directly or indirectly. Agriculture in Mississippi is a 8.83 billion-dollar industry. There are approximately 34,700 farms in the state covering 10.4 million acres. The average size farm is composed of 300 acres. Agriculture makes a significant contribution to all 82 counties. In celebration of the efforts of those who work so hard to feed and clothe us, we present this overview of Mississippi’s top 16 agricultural crops.

Mississippi Agriculture Snapshot

Agriculture is Mississippi’s number one industry, employing approximately 17.4% of the state’s workforce either directly or indirectly. Agriculture in Mississippi is a 8.83 billion-dollar industry. There are approximately 34,700 farms in the state covering 10.4 million acres. The average size farm is composed of 300 acres. Agriculture makes a significant contribution to all 82 counties. In celebration of the efforts of those who work so hard to feed and clothe us, we present this overview of Mississippi’s top 16 agricultural crops.

1. Poultry / Eggs – $2.42 Billion

• • Approximately 737 million broilers were produced in 2021.asw
  • 1,237 broiler farms.
  • 1,361 million eggs produced in 2020.
  • 234 farms with 100+ layers.

2. Soybeans – $1.49 Billion

• • 120,450,000 bushels produced in 2021.
  • 3,087 farms.

3. Forestry – $1.3 Billion

• • 19,244,571 acres in 2021.
  • 125,000 forest landowners.

4. Corn – $748.3 Million

• • 129,500,000 bushels produced in 2021.
  • 1,427 farms.

5. Cotton – $558 Million

• • 1,030,000 bales produced in 2021.
  • 780 farms.

6. Cattle/Calves – $282 Million

• • 920,000 head in 2021.
  • 15,980 farms.

7. Catfish – $232 Million

• • 33,900 acres of production in 2021.
  • 205 operations.

8. Hay – $160 Million

• • 1.53 million tons produced in 2021.
  • 630,000 acres harvested.

9. Rice – $92 Million

• • 7,575,000 hundredweight rice produced in 2021.
  • 221 farms.

10. Sweet Potatoes – $110 Million

• • 4.87 million hundredweight produced in 2021.
  • 27,500 acres harvested.
  • 172 farms.

11. Horticultural Crops – $108 Million
    Horticulture crops include vegetables, melons, potatoes, fruits, tree nuts, berries, nursery, greenhouses, floriculture, sod and Christmas trees.

12. Hogs – $38 Million

• • 150,000 hogs and pigs.
  • 1,115,900 piglets born in 2021.
  • 437 farms.

13. Wheat – $27.2 Million

• • 3,770 bushels produced in 2021.
  • 65,000 acres harvested.
  • 162 farms.

14. Milk – $22 Million

• • 8,000 milk cows in 2021.
  • 65 Grade A dairy herds.

15. Peanuts – $14.2 Million

• • 69.7 million pounds produced in 2021.
  • 17,000 acres harvested.
  • 113 farms.

Mississippi Value of Production Estimates, December 2021.
Source:  Mississippi State University, Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine;
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation

Please learn more here or contact IRPT Member:

Mississippi Department of Agriculture & Commerce

Ginger Williamson
121 North Jefferson St
Jackson, Mississippi 39201
(601) 359-1150
ginger@mdac.ms.gov